SHRAPNEL FIRE OF FIELD ARTILLERY. 485 
most effective distance of burst, while the service shell would only have 
to be burst 13 yards short of the most effective distance, which is, as 
shewn in Table I.,36 yards, to ensure every shell bursting at least three 
yards in front of the target. 
Table of minimum distances of burst short of targets necessitated by 
variations in time fuzes. 12-pr. gun. 
Range 1,000 yards, fuze should be set 50 yards short. 
” 2,000 eB) ” oy) 9 Al oF) 2» 
” 3,000 eB) ” 3) om) 33 ” oe) 
5B) 4,000 ” 3) ” 9 30 5B) 5B) 
The 15.-pr. has practically the same muzzle velocity but having a 
better 2 it retains its velocity longer and should, therefore, be burst 
slightly shorter than the 12-pr. A 
For the other targets, infantry kneeling, infantry standing and cavalry, 
our fuzes are just regular enough to enable us to use the theoretically 
best distance of burst to give the greatest effect. 
The following is a comparison between the ideal gun suggested by 
the General and the 15-pr. Mark I. 
15-pr. Proposed. 
Weight of gun ... 7 ewt. 8:2 cwt. 
Calibre ... nas 3" 3°18” 
Muzzle velocity ... se 1550 1574 
Weight of shrapnel ... ae 14 lb. 15°4 1b. 
Percentage weight of bullets to total weight 40 41 (considered 
max. possible). 
Bullets ... 200 35 to 1 lb. 
OE OAG Zl fo ih, et we le: 
Remaining velocity at 2,700 yards 904 925 
Angle of opening oy 10c lige 18° 80! 
Depth of effect! ... 390 yds. 270 yds. 
In point of view of efficiency for weight of equipment, the 15-pr. is 
well up to the standard laid down as best available by Major-General 
Rohne, and the reduced angle of opening is of great value owing 
to the variability in time of burning of time fuzes. 
It is gratifying to find that our shell fulfils in almost every particular 
the desiderata of the theoretically perfect shell described by General 
Rohne in his last chapter, the only serious difference being the angle 
of opening. It has already been shewn in section 5 that a small angle 
of opening is most essential with our present fuzes, and that our shell 
has great advantages over the German shell when attacking all other 
targets save artillery in position; if straight shooting and accurate 
laying can be relied on, the small angle has similar advantages when 
engaging artillery. The British infantry have always been renowned 
for the accuracy of their aim, the artillery must be equally so. 
It is also to be observed that the latest trials carried out at Shoe- 
buryness shew an angle of opening at 2,000 yards of only 7°, which is 
1 Taking minimum useful striking velocity for bullets of 35 to 1b. at 390 fg., and for bullets 44 
to 1 1b. as 362 f.s. and approximating from author’s table, page 55, 
(6.) 
Table ‘ 
showing 
minimum 
distances of 
mean point 
of burst 
short of tar- 
gets, neces- 
sitated by 
variation of 
time of 
burning of 
time fuzes, 
(7.) 
Details of 
the 15-pr, 
Britis 
equipment, 
and that pro« 
posed Dy 
Genera. 
Rohne, 
showing 
similarity, 
